Relay



Sept- 28, 1954 N. J. ANDERSON 2,690,487

RELAY Filed May 24. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 IN V EN TOR. 5,3 9 /Vo/FMA/v J/l/vofmso/v ATTORNEYS.

Sepf- 28, 1954 N. J. ANDERSON 2,690,487

RELAY Filed May 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIL NUR/WAN J ANDERSON ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 RELAYl Norman Jl.. Andersom. Boontbm, N; .,I.,. assignent!) Branson Corporatiom Boontom. N-. J, acorpo-A rationofD'elaware 8'. Claims. 1

The invention relates @to ielectromagneticrelays:

Gbjects andadvantages or the inventionwill beset Aforth'in part hereinafter'and; in part willbe obviousherefr'om, or may be learned: by practice Witlr the'.- invention, the.` same. being. realized and attained.- by means of"` the. instrumentalities and combinationsepointedlout inthe appended;claims;

The'inventionf consistsI inthe novel parts, conistructions, arrangements;y combinations and improvementsfherein shown and described.

The accon'ipanying` drawings,- referredtoherein and constituting. apart .-hereof.,. illustrate one embodirnentfof.- the invention;j and together with'. the description, serve toeX-plain the principle: of the invention.

Of the drafvvings:

Fig. 1 is.- aY perspective overall-.view of. ai relay embodyingthe invention.v shown in. actual size;

Eig. 2.isan enlargedsectionwith the internal parts inelevation,of.the'relay off Figi.. 1.;.`

Fig. S-isa-.vievv similarA to. Fig 2Avvith the exten nalr casing` removed;

Figs..4,.5and 6 are horizontal sectionsyfurther enlargedi on lines: 4 4, 5-54 and 6&6, respectively, of Fig.. 2;

Fig. '7 isa horizontal.- section. on. line 'l-'l ot Figi 3.-;. Y*

Fig. isaverticalsection on line afoflfig. 3;.

igs. l0, 112;, 12. and! 1:3 are perspective.v details oflvariouselements ofthe. relay construction and Fig. 14. is aview. similar to. lig..2, without, the outer casing. andA showing. ar modification. oil the relay for multiple contacts', with a double-pole,

double-throw combination.

Objects of. the. invention are to. provide a com..- pactandconveniently shaped. relay for lightduty., the arrangements. ofJtheparts. andthe shape. of the relay beingrsuch as to. provide the maximum in space efficiency. The relay of tl'leinvention is particularly designed for.` fittingl into the chassis off electrical' equipment, such as in aircraft and missiles; Where space requirements are' paramount'. Another object ofthe-inventionisto provide a` relay havingv the approximate sizeand shape of a conventional; smallI vacuum tube4 so that it can be employed" interchangeably with such` tubes in chassisI arrangement andA design; Another' object of theAv invention is' to' provide a relay havingr` improved characteristics-off sensitivity, reliability, low Weight; resistance to* shock andivibrationand toa widefrangfeoftemperature so that t1f`1e-relay is extremely sensitive and* pre:- eiseinoperation; but very rugged 1x1-withstanding 2.- conditions; ofi' usea-nd having a long operating life.

Generally described, the novel arrangements. and construction of the parts in my improved relay are' suchi that' the' Contact carrying.' springs andi: theY elementsvv cooperating4 therewith are; ally designed. and'ipositioned so.` as.'` to occupy the an nula-r space surrounding? thezcore'of the relayxcoil andi' to'flie. generallyv within the projected circurn ference'.r of the' coil.' itself- .For this. purpose- I' employf'contactfsprings which are generally circular ini form.' so-v that a1 substantialf leverage can beobtained. therefrom while fstillf maintaining: the. springs within: said: annular. space andi conven ientl-.yfarrangediwithfrespectto the other parteci.- the -relaye The construct-ion and arrangement of: the: armature which actuates ther contacta. thel interconnect-long. the insulationl and' the WiringV ci;v the contact carrying members and the very screws whichzhold the. assembled;oontact'carrying members` togher arealldesigned.y and v arranged.- to tcompactly andl ei'iciently.y Within: said restricted annular. spaca. therebygiving the entire relay constructionl aY genera-ily cylindrical shape? and arrangement-so that it canbe encasedfina suit.- able housingV off the size and` shape* ot. a. small vacuum. tubeA in. accordance with. the objects ofi the invent-ion aforesaid.

It-Willbeunderstoodthat the foregoingl general; descriptionf and thea following detailed description as- Well. are. exemplary andi explanatory butv are not.` restrictive of; the inventiony Referring-v noW- ini. detail; te the. present preferred embodiment ot the invention, illustrated` by Way of. exampleinthe accompanying drawings;

thefcylindricalelectremagneticcoil.J leef the relay is coriventionall-y-r woundl aboutI an internal. sleeve il of. insulating material. Thefendsfof the coil.- abut against. anupperinsulating. Washer I2 and` a similar lower. Washer` Hi.A Theupper washerv in turn abuts. against the ceramic. washer or annular: base member. Iii.. A. generally similar ceramiobase. lunderlies-thelower end` of.- the. coil. Ascentralcorel of. suitablemagnetic material. is ttedwithin the sleeve. LI. and'. the basemembers. ifi. and. H51. The upper. end of the. coreprojects a short. distance. beyond theuppcr faceV of the annulus ill? and. is locked. thereto by ariveted washer 2d.; Theflower end. et the core' projectsa substantial: distance:` beyond the. lower face. of: the annulusles As. showngsaid annulusvor besef platef h5# is locked. to thefcore andthuslockstogether the entiref coil: assembly by means; of.' av Ulsh'aped resilient lockingipin- 272 Which-isseaterl ina rectangular recessie? in the plate and passes" 3 through slots 24, formed on either side of the core. The pin 22 fits intimately within the borders of the rectangular recess 23 and is indented at its closed end to provide spring-like contact and seating within the recess.

As will be clear from Fig. 8, there is an annular space about the projecting lower end of the core 2i), the exterior of which space is defined by the projecting outer walls of the cylindrical coil assembly, and it is within said annular space that the switching and contact carrying elements of the relay are mounted for space eiiiciency in accordance with the invention. For so mounting said elements within said annular space, there is provided a mounting bracket fixed to the upper end of the coil, said bracket being essentially L-shaped and having a base member 33 which is centrally bored and countersunk to receive a nat-headed screw 3| which extends through the base 33 and into a threaded recess in the upper end of the core 20. The base 30 is slightly larger in diameter than the annulus I4 and is spaced therefrom by the projecting upper end portion of the core.

The other leg of the bracket is formed as a relatively narrow nat strip 32 which is bent down vertically from a notched-out portion of the circular plate 35 to extend along the coil l0 and for the length of the core 20, being spaced slightly from the outside of the coil and from the periphery of the annular member I5. For the purpose of mounting the curved contact-carrying springs within the annular space about the lower end of the core, the inner face of the bracket member 32 is provided with a shelf 33 extending at right angles from the face of the bracket leg and into said annular space. Said shelf is fixed to the inner face of the bracket 32 by rivets 34.

For the purpose of setting a plurality of contact carrying springs and spacing insulators on said shelf and within said annular space, there are provided two downwardly projecting screws 35 which are adapted to hold a pile of said insulators and Contact springs. To save space while making said screws of suitable strength and also to insulate them from the members they support, the shanks of the screws are reduced in diameter between the threaded end portions thereof and the lower face on the shelf 33 and insulating sleeves 36 (Fig. 5) of Teon or other suitable insulating plastic material are formed about the reduced Shanks of the screws so as to lie flush with the projecting threaded ends 31 thereof. In order to assemble said sleeve of Teon on the reduced Shanks of the screws, they are rst slid onto the screws over the upper, unthreaded ends thereof and then said ends are riveted into the upper face of the shelf 33.

As shown in detail in Fig. 13, contact-carrying springs 4G are provided in flat arcuate shape, the curved end of the spring carrying a button 42 of the switch Contact material. These contact springs are sickle-like in shape, having a radially outwardly projecting shank 43, and are provided with two holes 44 near the shank portion. These holes are threaded over the insulated shanks 35 of the screws 35 so that the arcuate portion 4D of the spring member will lie curved about and spaced from the projecting core and within the annular space described above. Rectangular blocks 45 of ceramic or other insulating material are also provided with holes to thread over the screws 35 so that a pile of alternately disposed insulating blocks 45 and y adjacent the free end thereof.

spring contact members 40 may be mounted on the screws 35 and shelf 33, as shown in Fig. 8 for example. It will be noted that in the form of relay shown in Figs. 1 to 13 a single pair of switch elements are shown, comprising switch contacts 42 on two spring members 40 which are mounted in the pile to embrace the core 2i) from opposite directions, the members 40 being of such length as to bring the two contact pieces 42 in opposition to each other and being normally spaced apart so as to provide an open switch. The projecting shanks 43 on each contact spring extend angularly away from the pile and are provided with openings 46 for attachment of wires thereto as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It will be noted that these shanks also lie substantially within the annular space, and within the projected perimeter of base I5 (Fig. 4).

The invention also provides for mounting of the movable armature, which is designed to actuate the switch or switches of the relay, so that it also will lie substantially within the annular space. As embodied the armature comprises a flat strip of magnetic metal 5l),v the upper end of which is reduced to form a tongue to which is attached a stud 5| about which is fixed an insulating node 52 of ceramic insulating material. The latter, being cemented to the stud 5|, constitutes the switch-actuating member extending at right angles from the free end of the armature. The armature 50 lies diametrically across and is normally spaced from the bottom end 0f the core 20, the upper end of the node 52 bearing against the bottom face of the lower contact spring 4B The armature is normally held in this open position by a spring mounting comprising a flat leaf-spring member 55, the bottom end of which engages the outer end of the armature, as by the bent tongue pieces which traverse the end of the armature, as shown. The upper end of the spring 55 is provided with a pair of holes 56 by means of which it is attached by screws 51 to the outer face of the bracket member 32. It will be noted that the spring 55 is bent downwardly and outwardly away from the outer face of bracket member 32 and thereby holds the armature assembly in the open position as described. When the coil I0 is excited, the armature will be drawn toward the end of the core thereby to force the contact pieces 42 into engagement with each other and close the switch. Upon de-energization, the spring 55 returns the armature to the open position while the spring members 40 move apart under their own tensions.

In the modication of Fig. 14 there is shown a double-pole, double-throw switch relay in which six alternately arranged switch contact spring members 48 are mounted to provide two pairs of normally closed contacts, and two pairs which are normally open. An intervening insulating node 60 is mounted on the next to lowest spring contact and bears against the lower face of the next to highest contact member. Normally the two lowermost contact members are together for one closed circuit and the contacts on the second and third members from the top are similarly together. When the relay is energized, the armature breaks these pairs of contacts and makes those between the iirst and second and between the fourth and iifth contacts.

While two switch contact spring members 40 are shown in one form and six in the form of Fig. 14, it will be understood that greater and lesser numbers of such springs and also of the contacts mounted thereon can be provided so as to arrange different combinations of switching and diierent numbers of switches within the relay.

A stop member 55 is provided to underlie the free end of the armature in both forms (Figs. 12 and 14) so as to limit the outward or switchopened movement of the armature. This stop member lies at the end of the angular bracket which is provided with a cross piece 5l apertured at to be threaded onto the screws and is fixed to the bottom ends thereof by the nuts St which bind the entire pile on the screws (Fig. d). The sides of the bracket constitute side guard members '5S and B9. The side members td and 63 of the bracket enclose the sides of the armature and restrict it against lateral movement.

Referring now to the embodied means for seating or connecting the relay to sockets in the chassis or the like, there is provided a bottom closure comprising a channeled ring l0 to the inner surface of which is bonded a ceramic closing plate 'll of glass or the like. Projecting through said plate and bonded therein is a plurality of hook-like contact members l2, the upper ends of which project above the top of the plate and the lower portions of which extend through the plate downwardly and are curved upwardly to form a i.

plurality of terminal hooks 13 for the attachment of wires or for seating in suitable female receptacles as may be required. It is understood that these contact members may be of different shapes depending upon the type of receptacle or wiring which may be required. The upper ends of the members l2 serve for connection by welded and soldered wires 74 and 'l5 to the terminals of the coil I0 while the other wires 1B and 11 are attached to the terminal shanks 43 of the contact springs. In the form of Fig. 14 it will be understood that the other hooks are wired to the other contact members as required.

For sealing the relay from moisture, dust, etc. and to protect it from shock, or the like, a cylindrical housing 80 is provided. Said housing is large enough to surround entirely the working parts of the relay while leaving ample space for clearance. The upper end of the housing is integral and closed, slightly overlying the upper face of bracket member 50. The housing is preferably locked to the relay by a crimping or indentation (not shown) just below the lower face of the bracket plate 30. The lower portion of the housing is provided with an integral flanged base terminating in ears 8l which are apertured at 32 for attachment of the relay to a chassis or other surface. The upper and outer edge of the base ring l) is seated in an annular socket in the lower surface of the flanged base 8l just outside the outer walls of the cylindrical housing 80 and is preferably sealed thereto as by a solder seal 84. The sealed housing and assembly are preferably exhausted of air and filled with a dry inert gas .just before hermetic sealing so as to avoid condensation of moisture and the like.

Due to the fact that the insulating plastics used on the coil and other insulated surfaces are resistant to wide temperature ranges, as are the ceramic insulators, the relay as shown and described is highly temperature resistant, and may have a working ambient temperature range as high as -65 C. to +200 C. The operating characteristics are unchanged for vibration frequency of 0 to 81 cps. at a total excursion of .06 inches. Under accelerations of 50 g. the operatH ing characteristics remain practically unchanged from the non-accelerating condition. At no time will forcesy of this magnitude change the contact condition, whether the relay be energized or nonenergized.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What l claim is:

l. A relay having in combination a cylindrical coil, a magnetic core therein projecting a substantial distance beyond one end of the coil, a plurality of curved contact-carrying springs fixed and supported on fulcra lying within the annular space around the projecting end of the core and within the projected outer cylindrical circumference or" the coil, said springs lying around the core and having switch contact points also within said annular space, and an armature positioned adjacent the end of said core and operable when the coil is energized to move said switch contacts relatively to each other.

2. The relay of claim 1, wherein the armature also lies substantially within said annular space.

3. The relay of claim 1, wherein the number of said springs is more than two.

4. The relay of claim 1, wherein a double-pole, double-throw switch is provided by having at least three of said contact-carrying springs so mounted and movable within said annular space.

5. The relay of claim 1, wherein a double-pole, double-throw switch is provided by having six of said contact-carrying springs so mounted and movable within said annular space and the armature also lies substantially within said annular space.

6. The relay of claim l, wherein the fulcra of said springs comprise an insulated pile supported by screws having insulating sleeves all located within said annular space, said sleeves being flush with the threaded portions of the screws.

7. The relay of claim 1 wherein the curved contact-carrying springs are formed in a flat arcuate shape so as to lie around the projecting core.

8. The relay of claim 1 wherein the curved contact-carrying springs are formed in a sicklelike shape so the springs will lie around the projecting core and have outwardly projecting Shanks to be fixed and supported on fulcra lying within the annular space around the projecting core.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,279,395 Gardiner Apr. 14, 1942 2,300,868 Bottinger Nov. 3, 1942 2,385,858 Horman Oct. 2, 1945 2,454,060 Hegy Nov. 16, 1948 2,538,020 Lomholt Jan. 16, 1951 

